How Congress Works and Why You Should Care by Lee Hamilton '52 Rated "Outstanding"

July 2, 2005

July 2, 2005, Greencastle, Ind. - How Congress Works and Why You Should Care, written by 1952 DePauw University graduate Lee H. Hamilton, has been recognized as "Outstanding" by members of the 2005 University Press Books Committee. This rating is awarded to titles with "exceptional editorial content" that are "essential editions" to most school and public library collections. Hamilton -- who served more than three decades as a US Congressman from Indiana, served as vice chair of the 9/11 Commission and is currently co-chairs a task force that is examining immigration issues.

The Books Committee is composed of practicing professionals from the American Association of School Libraries (AASL) and the Public Library Association (PLA), two divisions of the American Library Association. The Committee reviewed several hundred books published by university presses. Hamilton's book is published by Indiana University Press.

Of the committee's citation, Hamilton, who serves as director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University, said, "I am very pleased they share my belief that it is vital for Americans to better understand Congress, which is the institution in our democracy that is supposed to be the most responsive to the people's needs, desires and aspirations. People have a right and a responsibility to become involved in governance. My book is aimed at helping citizens understand how they can influence Congress and make it work better."

Books Committee member Antoinette Negro, who is chair of AASL, describes How Congress Works as "a readable and objective view of the 'First Branch' of government, which the author sees as the basis of representative democracy. More importantly, the book is a guide to getting involved as a means of overcoming apathy and skepticism of the political process."

A previous story noting the release of How Congress Works and Why You Should Care can be accessed here.

Last month, Lee Hamilton received the national Jefferson Award for Public Service for his work on the 9/11 Commission. The former congressman returned to DePauw on September 17, 2004 for "DePauw Discourse 2004: Issues for America," a three-day election issue forum hosted by the Washington C. DePauw Society. A summary of his comments, including video and audio clips, can be found by clicking here.